Activation Report: Hillsborough River State Park (US-1878) — May 12, 2026
- 7 min reading time
Park: US-1878 · Mode: FT8 · Band: 20m · Radio: Xiegu X6200 · Power: 5W · QSOs: 9
My office view is better than yours.
Hillsborough River State Park opens at 8:00 AM sharp and I was through the gate and hiking toward the Rapids Overlook immediately. Setup was smooth and I was on the air at 8:43 AM with the mic positioned to pick up the sound of the river for the TikTok live. The backdrop was exactly what I was hoping for — the Hillsborough River running fast over the rocks right behind the radio.
The Power Mistake
At 9:16 AM I realized I had never turned the power up from 0.5 watts to 5 watts. Thirty-three minutes on the air putting out half a watt and wondering why I wasn't getting through. Lesson learned — verify power output before the first CQ. After the adjustment contacts started coming in.
Wildlife
Hillsborough River State Park delivered on wildlife in a big way today.
![Otter in the clear shallow water of the Hillsborough River near the rocks at the Rapids Overlook]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0624/5570/9799/files/20260512_091940.jpg?v=1778609776)
Caption: A river otter working the rapids — one of the highlights of the activation
The otter appeared right at the Rapids Overlook while I was operating — hunting in the clear shallow water between the limestone outcroppings. Got it on both video and photo.
Caption: Florida cooter turtle sunning on a log — the calm section of the river reflecting the canopy above
A turtle was doing what Florida turtles do — sitting perfectly still on a log in the calm water just off the overlook, reflected in the mirror-smooth surface below it.
A gator was also spotted during the session. This park is as much a wildlife experience as it is a radio activation.
The River
Caption: The Hillsborough River from the Rapids Overlook — one of the only places in Florida with moving water over exposed limestone
Hillsborough River State Park is worth the visit entirely separate from radio. The hike out to the Rapids Overlook takes you through dense Florida hammock along a well-maintained trail. The rapids themselves are one of the few places in Florida where you'll see moving water over exposed limestone outcroppings. The sound of the river made for an atmosphere you don't find at most parks.
On the Air
First contact came in at 9:24 AM — VA7GEM calling in from British Columbia. Four minutes later at 9:28 AM I worked HC1DAZ in Ecuador on 5 watts. That's the kind of contact that reminds you why FT8 and 5 watts is such a capable combination.
With only 5 QSOs in the log by 10:30 AM I made the call to pack up and move to a different operating spot to try for better results. The second location added 4 more contacts before the rain moved in and shut things down. Final count — 9 QSOs in the log.
Not my biggest activation but Ecuador on 5 watts from the bank of a Florida river with an otter in the water behind you is a highlight regardless of the QSO count.
A Note on Cellular Signal
Hillsborough River State Park has minimal cellular coverage in spots, which creates real challenges for live broadcasting. Today's TikTok live was affected by the signal limitations on the trail out to the overlook — and this is a recurring issue across several parks in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. I have reached out to HiBoost about a field test partnership to test their compact portable signal boosters at parks across the area. In the meantime if you are dealing with the same coverage issues at your local parks, check out HiBoost at the link below — use code W4GGJ for 10% off your entire order. More on the field test as it develops.
Learn More — HiBoost Signal Boosters →
Use code W4GGJ for 10% off your entire order at hiboost.com
Activation Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Activation # | 21 |
| Park | Hillsborough River State Park |
| Park Ref | US-1878 |
| Date | May 12, 2026 |
| On Air | 8:43 AM |
| First Contact | VA7GEM — 9:24 AM |
| Notable DX | HC1DAZ — Ecuador — 9:28 AM |
| Total QSOs | 9 |
| Power | 5W (0.5W for first 33 minutes) |
| Band | 20m FT8 |
| Radio | Xiegu X6200 |
| Antenna | Radioddity HF-010 |
| Weather | Clear then rain |
All-Time POTA Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Activations | 21 |
| Unique Parks | 13 |
| Total QSOs | 578 |
| Best Activation | 75 QSOs — Skyway Fishing Pier (US-1916) |
Full log uploaded to pota.app. Photos and video from the activation on TikTok @grumpagrinch.
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